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Box Clever

Use explosive box jumps to send your squat strength soaring

The box jump, like the rope swing or the tire flip, is an exercise not popular with masses. To lug a rarely used box from the corner of the gym and launch yourself onto it, repeatedly, is an act of defiance that speaks of a high-performance mindset. That, or the leg press is busy. Either way, box jumps aren’t just a good way to draw attention to yourself: done right, they activate the nervous system for gains in strength and size. While box jumps alone aren’t going to give you legs like Chris Hoy, performing them regularly – and even as a warm-up exercise before you get into your heavy lifting – will fire up your nervous system and stimulate the fast-twitch muscles neglected with lowintensity weightlifting. The result? You’ll not only be able to lift more, you will also stimulate more muscle growth.